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It looked like Nike was going to stick by LA, but I'm sure after they were mentioned in connection to a payoff to the UCI , they decided enough was enough and they had to distance themselves from this. The wording of their statement was very interesting. It talked about being deceived by LA for ten years.
I guess the old axiom isn't true... Not all publicity is good publicity.

Not like he was the only one. Wish he would have come clean a log time ago.

A lot of people who follow cycling don't think this is as much about the fact that he doped (most if not all of the peleton is juiced to some degree IMO) but how he repeatedly denied his involvement and then went out of his way to destroy people who dared to speak the truth. This list is long, Kimmage, Simeoni, Betsy Andreu, Greg Lemond and many others. Defending yourself is one thing, conducting a full scale war using Nike, Trek and Oakley's money is another.

The next big thunk we will hear is that Livestrong doesn't promote cancer research. Oh wait, it doesn't, it's only an advocacy group for Cancer patients.......and a cash cow for a cheat.

And now Trek has dropped him. Corporate sponsors are running from him as fast as they can. Also, apparently, the Spanish prosecutors office is looking into weather he broke any drug laws while he was living there. And still no statement from LA...

And now Trek has dropped him. Corporate sponsors are running from him as fast as they can. Also, apparently, the Spanish prosecutors office is looking into weather he broke any drug laws while he was living there. And still no statement from LA...

Guy is worth somewhere north of $100 million...he doesn't need to answer to anyone. In a few years he'll write a book, they'll pay him handsomely, then he'll do the talk show circuit.

Guy is worth somewhere north of $100 million...he doesn't need to answer to anyone. In a few years he'll write a book, they'll pay him handsomely, then he'll do the talk show circuit.

This isn't as ridiculous as the Tiger Woods thing but it's close...

This is far worse than the "Tiger Woods thing". This story is about much more than one man and has far reaching affects on the entire pro cycling world.
Not only are sponsors running away from LA as fast as they can, they are now leaving the sport entirely. (Rabobank, cyclings longest standing team sponsor, announced their withdrawal this morning sighting this issue as the cause) Additionally, Michele Ferrari, LA's doping doctor, is being investigated and linked to a money laundering scheme involving many pro teams, along with athletes from other sports, which cleaned their money so they could not only buy drugs, but also avoid taxes.
And Cycling Australia is falling apart. Their director, a former pro, resigned today and admitted to doping during his career. Also, They are having to deal with sorting through which coaches and team organizers are linked to doping scandals.
I said when this all started, and it seems to be happening, that when the truth came out, it would shake the cycling world to its very foundations. That's happening. Every day brings new revelations and more people are losing jobs. Eventually, the entire hierarchy will need to be rebuilt. And all because one man had a pathological need to win at all costs.
We are seeing far more than a scandal with just a few guys, it's the entire sport. Cycling will survive, but the organization will look a lot different when this is over.

Guy is worth somewhere north of $100 million...he doesn't need to answer to anyone. In a few years he'll write a book, they'll pay him handsomely, then he'll do the talk show circuit.

This isn't as ridiculous as the Tiger Woods thing but it's close...

Also, he doesn't need to answer to anyone because he made loads of money off his cheating? In other words, the end always justifies the means?
And LA will never admit to his cheating. To do so would open him up to all manner of lawsuits and then, bye bye $100 million.

The whole industry was doing this, and this is the fault of one man? This looks like the famous cutting your nose to spite your face. If you support that the truth should come out as a moral principle regardless of the consequences, then so be it. But if you want the truth out and are upset that it ruins the whole sport, then I'd have to ask, why didn't they just let it go away with hm? He retired. Let it go and let the charities and industry that was built because of him to continue. It's a hard choice to make, but whatever choice was made, you have to take it with the consequences.

__________________

MatWiz"The greatest thing about the internet, is that you can quote something and totally make up the source." - George Washington.

My opinion about any steroid use is the same today as it was when I commented on Barry Bonds 8 years ago:

Quote:

By condoning illegal drug use in athletes (Drugs that have been proven to be damaging to internal organs, sometimes resulting in death) is teaching future generations that its okay to shorten ones life in order to be "#1". Ask yourself, would you encourage your child to smoke cigarettes? How about to take steroids to perform better in high school athletics? I wouldn't. Whether athletes like it or not, children look at them as role models, and tend to want to be "just like them" at any costs. Remember how "smart" you were about making life or death choices as a teenager?

On a side note, if we're consciously going to allow steroid use in our minds, then all athletes should have access to them legally. To allow some access to illegal drugs to enhance performance is giving advantage to those who are willing to risk their life to pursue enhanced athletic ability is simply not fair. And in sports, making a level playing field for all is what the competition aspect of sports is all about. Those who went outside what the rules and regulations to further enhance their performance cheated. Its that simple. Strip them of any titles if it can be proven without a doubt.

This is far worse than the "Tiger Woods thing". This story is about much more than one man and has far reaching affects on the entire pro cycling world.
Not only are sponsors running away from LA as fast as they can, they are now leaving the sport entirely. (Rabobank, cyclings longest standing team sponsor, announced their withdrawal this morning sighting this issue as the cause) Additionally, Michele Ferrari, LA's doping doctor, is being investigated and linked to a money laundering scheme involving many pro teams, along with athletes from other sports, which cleaned their money so they could not only buy drugs, but also avoid taxes.
And Cycling Australia is falling apart. Their director, a former pro, resigned today and admitted to doping during his career. Also, They are having to deal with sorting through which coaches and team organizers are linked to doping scandals.
I said when this all started, and it seems to be happening, that when the truth came out, it would shake the cycling world to its very foundations. That's happening. Every day brings new revelations and more people are losing jobs. Eventually, the entire hierarchy will need to be rebuilt. And all because one man had a pathological need to win at all costs.
We are seeing far more than a scandal with just a few guys, it's the entire sport. Cycling will survive, but the organization will look a lot different when this is over.

This is far worse than the "Tiger Woods thing". This story is about much more than one man and has far reaching affects on the entire pro cycling world.
Not only are sponsors running away from LA as fast as they can, they are now leaving the sport entirely. (Rabobank, cyclings longest standing team sponsor, announced their withdrawal this morning sighting this issue as the cause) Additionally, Michele Ferrari, LA's doping doctor, is being investigated and linked to a money laundering scheme involving many pro teams, along with athletes from other sports, which cleaned their money so they could not only buy drugs, but also avoid taxes.
And Cycling Australia is falling apart. Their director, a former pro, resigned today and admitted to doping during his career. Also, They are having to deal with sorting through which coaches and team organizers are linked to doping scandals.
I said when this all started, and it seems to be happening, that when the truth came out, it would shake the cycling world to its very foundations. That's happening. Every day brings new revelations and more people are losing jobs. Eventually, the entire hierarchy will need to be rebuilt. And all because one man had a pathological need to win at all costs. We are seeing far more than a scandal with just a few guys, it's the entire sport. Cycling will survive, but the organization will look a lot different when this is over.

This is what they should have done with the US banking system. Let it burn.
From the ashes rise new ones.

They've been updating the story as things happen. We still haven't seen the end of the ripples this is causing.

I have stated previously, I have made money do to the "lance effect". And I'm neither a fan or hater of LA. I think the soap opera is quite entertaining. However, as a cycling fan and one time racer, I would prefer to see the sport cleaned up. We are truly in for quite the storm; people will lose jobs, some will be jailed, reputations will be destroyed, and the hierarchy of the cycling establishment will be forced to step aside. But hopefully, after the storm, we'll have a much cleaner sport where hard work is worth more than what doctor you have.

Oh, also, Lance didn't win races just because he was doped. Mostly, they all were. He won because he paid attention to every detail and worked harder than everyone else. Still doesn't excuse what he, or any of the others have done.

Also, he doesn't need to answer to anyone because he made loads of money off his cheating? In other words, the end always justifies the means?
And LA will never admit to his cheating. To do so would open him up to all manner of lawsuits and then, bye bye $100 million.

He was an entertainer and he entertained. The laws are irrelevant (and totally without merit - like marijuana laws and miscegenation laws, they're invasive and have no place in the personal/professional lives of others). He should pack up and move outside the reach of the hypocritical US. Live out life somewhere peaceful and like I said, come back in a few years and collect a few more million for writing a book that says nothing...